Religious motifs and images in A. Varlamov's novel "The Sunken Ark"

Osipova Olga Ivanovna, Niu Yueqiu

The subject of the research is the complex of religious motives in A. Varlamov's novel «The Sunken Ark». As a result of the research, the central antinomic motif of true holiness - sinfulness is singled out. The semantic field of this motive includes the motives of faith - unbelief, prophecy, martyrdom, the motive of temptation and redemption. The central motif establishes connections between the characters, characterizes the space, which is divided into profane and sacred, determines the storylines associated with the transformation of the characters, their spiritual resurrection. Thanks to religious motives, the novel can be read both at the plot and at the allegorical level.

Keywords:Varlamov, religious motif, sacred space, chronotope, system of characters.